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To expound on this, we've still yet to have a president who doesn't identify as Christian. I don't think we're particularly close to a point where a self-profes

by saghm 5y ago

To expound on this, we've still yet to have a president who doesn't identify as Christian. I don't think we're particularly close to a point where a self-professed atheist could get elected president either, although I could see someone of another mainstream religion getting elected in the not too distant future.

spindle 5y ago
As a non-American, can anyone please tell me how the media reacts to Tulsi Gabbard not being Christian? (She's Hindu ... and religious, so this is not relevant to the atheist part of your point.)
- saghm 5y ago
  I actually don't think I was aware of this! Most of the media coverage I've seen on her is about her coming across as fairly unconventional for a Democrat in the debate performances, but I think the field was so large then and then narrowed down quickly enough that she didn't get much extended attention. I imagine if she makes it further into a national campaign, it might end up coming up though.
- int_19h 5y ago
  Chris Butler's cult isn't Hindu, although they would sure like people to believe that.
pbhjpbhj 5y ago
Trump is very clearly not a Christian. Seemed to be loved by people who call themselves Christian but seemingly don't follow any of Jesus' message. It's really curious.
- krapp 5y ago
  >Seemed to be loved by people who call themselves Christian but seemingly don't follow any of Jesus' message. That describes most Christians, honestly. Trump identifies as a "non-denominational" Christian (as opposed to atheist or any other religion), employs Christian symbols in his politics (likely not in good faith, but again that isn't unusual) and has strong support within the Evangelical Christian community, who clearly find something within him that resonates with their faith.
  - kQq9oHeAz6wLLS 5y ago
    > That describes most Christians, honestly. In your experience, perhaps, but it's exceptionally dishonest, and frankly hateful, to say that describes "most Christians." I know more Christians than non-Christians and the behavior discussed here describes maybe 4 of them (out of about a thousand). That'd be like someone saying "most LGBTQ are pedophiles." I'm sure it's true in some cases, but is highly unlikely to be true for "most". Honestly, I get tired of everyone using hyperbole so flippantly. It gives your opponents easy targets to completely discredit the point you were making. So, just...stop.
    - krapp 5y ago
      >In your experience, perhaps, but it's exceptionally dishonest, and frankly hateful, to say that describes "most Christians." It isn't hate, it is experience, and it's something a lot of Christians would admit about themselves. Even the Bible says most followers of God are hypocrites who fall short of their own principles. I'm not getting into a religious argument here, but you shouldn't talk about giving your opponents an easy target. Christianity is one hell of a glass house to live in. Maybe instead of attacking me, you should consider why so many Christians believe so deeply and fervently in a man of such excremental moral character like Donald Trump. You can't simply dismiss the question by claiming none of them are real Christians. Take the plank out of your own eye before pointing out the speck in someone else's, as the man said.
    - usefulcat 5y ago
      Ok, but that doesn’t remotely address the rather obvious question of why so many self-described followers of Christ voted for and advocated for a man who is so deeply and obviously un-Christlike.
      - kQq9oHeAz6wLLS 5y ago
        Lesser of two evils, perhaps? Single issue voters?
        5y ago
- gizmo686 5y ago
  Trump presented himself as a Christian, which is the relevant factor here.
- saghm 5y ago
  Yeah, I specifically said "identify as Christian" when thinking about this; he's said a number of things that make it clear that is how he's presenting himself politically (e.g. something about how the only book he liked better than his "The Art of the Deal" was the bible, and like, I certainly don't know how devout, say, Rutherford B. Hayes was, so it seems reasonable not to count him separately.

by saghm 5y ago

spindle 5y ago

As a non-American, can anyone please tell me how the media reacts to Tulsi Gabbard not being Christian? (She's Hindu ... and religious, so this is not relevant to the atheist part of your point.)

saghm 5y ago
I actually don't think I was aware of this! Most of the media coverage I've seen on her is about her coming across as fairly unconventional for a Democrat in the debate performances, but I think the field was so large then and then narrowed down quickly enough that she didn't get much extended attention. I imagine if she makes it further into a national campaign, it might end up coming up though.
int_19h 5y ago
Chris Butler's cult isn't Hindu, although they would sure like people to believe that.

pbhjpbhj 5y ago

Trump is very clearly not a Christian. Seemed to be loved by people who call themselves Christian but seemingly don't follow any of Jesus' message. It's really curious.

krapp 5y ago
>Seemed to be loved by people who call themselves Christian but seemingly don't follow any of Jesus' message. That describes most Christians, honestly. Trump identifies as a "non-denominational" Christian (as opposed to atheist or any other religion), employs Christian symbols in his politics (likely not in good faith, but again that isn't unusual) and has strong support within the Evangelical Christian community, who clearly find something within him that resonates with their faith.
- kQq9oHeAz6wLLS 5y ago
  > That describes most Christians, honestly. In your experience, perhaps, but it's exceptionally dishonest, and frankly hateful, to say that describes "most Christians." I know more Christians than non-Christians and the behavior discussed here describes maybe 4 of them (out of about a thousand). That'd be like someone saying "most LGBTQ are pedophiles." I'm sure it's true in some cases, but is highly unlikely to be true for "most". Honestly, I get tired of everyone using hyperbole so flippantly. It gives your opponents easy targets to completely discredit the point you were making. So, just...stop.
  - krapp 5y ago
    >In your experience, perhaps, but it's exceptionally dishonest, and frankly hateful, to say that describes "most Christians." It isn't hate, it is experience, and it's something a lot of Christians would admit about themselves. Even the Bible says most followers of God are hypocrites who fall short of their own principles. I'm not getting into a religious argument here, but you shouldn't talk about giving your opponents an easy target. Christianity is one hell of a glass house to live in. Maybe instead of attacking me, you should consider why so many Christians believe so deeply and fervently in a man of such excremental moral character like Donald Trump. You can't simply dismiss the question by claiming none of them are real Christians. Take the plank out of your own eye before pointing out the speck in someone else's, as the man said.
  - usefulcat 5y ago
    Ok, but that doesn’t remotely address the rather obvious question of why so many self-described followers of Christ voted for and advocated for a man who is so deeply and obviously un-Christlike.
    - kQq9oHeAz6wLLS 5y ago
      Lesser of two evils, perhaps? Single issue voters?
      - 5y ago
gizmo686 5y ago
Trump presented himself as a Christian, which is the relevant factor here.
saghm 5y ago
Yeah, I specifically said "identify as Christian" when thinking about this; he's said a number of things that make it clear that is how he's presenting himself politically (e.g. something about how the only book he liked better than his "The Art of the Deal" was the bible, and like, I certainly don't know how devout, say, Rutherford B. Hayes was, so it seems reasonable not to count him separately.